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Nonprofit Overview

Mission: AWLMC seeks to enhance the lives of Montgomery County, Maryland residents and animals through programs directed at education, adoption, animal shelter, and low cost spay/neuter. AWLMC is committed to ending the euthanasia of adoptable animals in Montgomery County. With this in mind, we are partnering with the county shelter to help save the most at-risk animals.
In order to save as many cats as possible, we have opened a no-kill, cage-free shelter in Gaithersburg.

Results: We've distributed 3665 spay-neuter certificates, 1193 for dogs and 2472 for cats since our Spay-Neuter program began. 1075 were free certificates. We've distributed 37,923 lbs. of cat and dog food to needy pet owners over the past 10 years through our Chompers Pet food bank. We have adopted out over 1,300 cats since our organization was formed 10 years ago.

Target demographics: cats, county residents

Direct beneficiaries per year: over 100 cats find good homes and helped many others with pet food and pet altering

Community Stories

93 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

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The AWLMC is a very caring and loving shelter..I started sending them emails just after midnight on New Year's Eve about Kinsey who I was interested in adopting .. They responded to me right away the next day.. The provided answers to all of my questions and details about Kinsey.. They even provided me with the opportunity to Foster her first to make sure we were a good fit for one another. I emailed them every day after I took Kinsey home and they provided me with many useful tips to help Kinsey in her adjustment phase. The AWLMC is a lovely facility and provides a home-like environment for each cat.. Most importantly it's clear to me that the volunteer staff love each and every kitten or cat that enters their doors as if they were their own!

My wife and I added two tabby kitten littermates to our family last summer at an adoption event sponsored by AWLMC. The entire experience was just great. The volunteers were friendly and very knowledgeable. The kitties were very healthy and well cared for. They had all their shots, were spayed/neutered and microchipped, all for an incredible bargain price. The love for animals this group has is evident in all they do!

we had a wonderful experience adopting 2 kittens from this shelter. We could tell how much the volunteers really care about their cats and kittens. I highly recommend AWLMC to anyone looking to adopt a cat or kitten.

This volunteer-run animal shelter is a great nonprofit. The commitment of our volunteers is absolutely incredible. Volunteers do a great job of matching cats to their prospective forever families. I love AWLMC!

I had been to no-kill cat shelters before, and even got one of my own cats at a Second Hand Chance, but when I got there I was absolutely blown away. These cats live in conditions that are probably better than some housecats! An abundance of cat trees, lovely window views, and each room only comes with two or three cats at the most. Not to mention how clean it is! The volunteer setup is really well organized, so that cats are always receiving some level of care, whether that's just having people play with them or coming to clean the litter boxes. It feels more like a sanctuary sometimes than a shelter. An absolutely wonderful place to volunteer--I feel lucky to be involved and I love watching all these cats feel so comfortable putting their personalities on display.

After a couple of tragic experiences with other facilities I found AWLMC and found my forever pal. As a redhead I was delighted to find a furry ginger to share my life. The staff were very forthcoming regarding Skipper's past - as they knew it - so that I was fully prepared to make our transition to each other as smooth as possible. I love their care and concern for the creatures who have come to be in their care. I know finding them - and have Skipper come to live with me - was an angel thing. Thank you for the work you continue to do, AWLMC!

This nonprofit shelter is a great place to work at. The cats are healthy, friendly, clea, and well-loved. They do a great job running this place on a shoestring. It's an amazing home-like setting and the cats go to good families.

I am proud to rate AWLMC. The cats they shelter and put up for adoption are lovable and healthy, well taken care of. My foster cat Don Juan is a sweet boy and will soon be available to adopt. People are welcome to visit AWLMC at 12 Park Avenue in Gaithersburg, MD and see what a cage-free no-kill home-like all-volunteer shelter is like.

AWLMC runs a homelike, cage-free, no-kill cat shelter. They rescue cats and get them adopted into loving homes. The organization is run completely by the most caring volunteers. I love working there. They let me take cats home to care for until they're ready to be adopted and they don't even charge me anything to loan me a cat. You should try it.

This is a wonderful nonprofit run by caring, creative, hard-working men and women. The organization operates a no-kill cat shelter located at 12 Park Ave. in Gaithersburg MD. It holds several adoption events each week and sponsors a free food bank that provides pet food and supplies to pet owners who need assistance to care for their dogs and cats; people who might otherwise have to give up their beloved companions because of financial hardship. AWLMC has a low cost spay/neuter program and holds educational lectures and provides information to the public about how to care for their pets. The organization has no paid staff, only volunteers. I've volunteered for about 8 months and it's been the most rewarding experience I've ever had. I am amazed at how frugal and efficient the organization is, given its small budget. It depends on donations and small grants to operate. It is heart-warming to read stories of cats who are rescued from terrible circumstances, brought to this shelter and adopted by loving families.

I am a proud volunteer of this organization. The house is wonderfully homey and organized. The cats receive excellent care, lots of attention, and a personalized experience to ensure that they receive the best home possible.

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I recently adopted a cat from the Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County, and I'm so happy about my experience with them. I visited their facility a few times before I actually adopted my cat, and each time the volunteers were kind, informative, and patient with me. The facility itself is also a lovely home to all of the cats AWLMC rescues, so I knew my kitty was well-loved and cared for during his time with them. I have also been able to keep AWLMC updated on my cat's progress since we've brought him home via Facebook, and their continuing words of kindness and encouragement mean a lot... I can tell everyone involved there cares a great deal to volunteer with AWLMC.

Thank you AWLMC . You all have been so helpful with friendly, previously owned cats that end up in feral cat colonies and need foster until they can find a new loving home. You are so great to work with. The shelter is so beautiful and everyone is so nice.

AWLMC is a wonderful organization. I was private fostering a kitty for 9 months when I found out about AWL. I visited the facility and was very impressed by the cleanliness, and the very home-like set-up that the facility has. The workers and volunteers are friendly and out-going. I encouraged the kitty's owner to see AWL and consider moving her to AWL as the kitty was very nice and not getting any exposure to the public at my home. Sylvia(the kitty) was accepted at AWL and was adopted within 10 days!If you are looking for a cat to join your family, please make AWL your first stop. Also if you are looking for a good group to donate to, this facility and the work they do, are very deserving of your $$. Photo is of Sylvia.

My wife and had just bought our first house. Growing up we always had cats. The house was so quiet and when home alone it felt so lonely. Thanks to AWL we were able To adopt our two beautiful cats. Our home feels complete. I can't imagine being without these guys. Thank You!!!

I was recently introduced to AWLMC and had a great experience with them. They really care about the animals and go the extra mile to help! I am thrilled to have a relationship with AWLMC now, so even more animals can be helped. In my dealings with them, they have been professional, prompt, and caring. On top of that, they send me pictures and keep me updated on the welfare of the cat I found. I highly recommend them.

I have been volunteering with AWLMC for about 6.5 years. It is a great organization; a place you feel you really make a difference for our cats and everyone else we help through our spay/neuter and chompers programs. I also love spending time with the cats and all the volunteers.

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I have been a volunteer with AWLMC for about 5.5 years and love it! I always say if a cat has to be homeless, our shelter is the place to live. The cats live in a homelike environment, cage free with a dedicated team of volunteers that care and love for them until they find their forever home. AWLMC also offers a low cost spay/neuter program and a pet food bank for needy county residents. It is a great place to get some kitten love and make a difference in the world

I have volunteered for this organization for close to 5 years. It is an amazing place for cats to live until they find their forever home. It is clean and spacious. The cats get a lot of love and attention. We have some great programs too for spay/neuter and a food bank. I love volunteering and seeing cats find homes. It makes me feel good.

I have been volunteering with AWLMC for about 3 years. It is an amazing no-kill animal shelter. What this small shelter has accomplished should be an example for others out there. The best part is when we find a new home for one of our cat residents. It puts a smile on all of our faces and reminds all of us why we do what we do on volunteer time.

I am so pleased with the efforts AWLMC makes to improve the lives of the animals and people in our community. This organization has exceptional Volunteers who will stop at nothing to continue making a difference. I am proud to be part of the leadership supporting the mission. Please take a moment to learn more about us and visit our beautiful cat shelter in Old Town Gaithersburg!

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I am proud to be reviewing this great organization again this year. The organization will have been in existence for 10 years during 2015! We have helped an enormous number of cats, dogs and humans. AWLMC is able to help people prevent unwanted litters of puppies and kittens through our spay/neuter program, help people feed their pets to prevent them from being surrendered, and, when no other options are left, help people re-home their cats and kittens. We work with municipal shelters, the public and many rescue partners throughout the area. It is very rewarding to work with such dedicated caring people.

As an active volunteer, board of directors member and the current President, I LOVE this organization! I have seen so many dedicated volunteers step up and do things well outside of their comfort zone because they CARE!
I have also personally experienced the difference that our programs and services make in the lives of our community members. From the intake of animals in need of rehoming, low cost spay/neuter, Chompers Food Bank through the visitors to the shelter, it is amazing how many people we reach.
I am proud to be part of this organization and look forward to the continued success in the future.
I thank every person who helps us thrive!

I love volunteering with AWLMC. I was warmly welcomed by all the volunteers I encountered when I joined. I love the atmosphere that the cats live in, the nearly cage-free shelter gives the cats a real advantage in finding the right adopters. There are a variety of programs the organization operates to benefit the community and the animals in Montgomery County Maryland. The dedication of the volunteers to ensure the best possible future for the cats is phenomenal. I am proud to support the mission and be counted amoung the volunteers.

I've been a volunteer here since 2011, and am constantly impressed by the dedication of our volunteers. They go above and beyond in caring for each cat as an individual, learning each cat's personality and preferences, and helping them find their forever homes. Being involved with AWLMC is extremely rewarding for me personally, and is even more rewarding for the cats that come to us.

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I've been volunteering at AWLMC for almost two years, starting after only one visit. I look forward to coming in and seeing the cats and the other volunteers. It's an excellent shelter, with good people and a comfortable environment for the cats. I love working with a no-kill shelter. Some cats stay longer than others, but they are loved and safe, and will be with us until they find their special person.